The New York City premiere of “Lovelace,” a film about the life of Linda Lovelace, the star of 1970’s adult film “Deep Throat,” became a night of conversation about women’s rights and modern sexual abuse.

After becoming famous for her role in “Deep Throat,” Lovelace revealed she had been abused and coerced into the pornography industry by her husband Chuck Traynor (Sarsgaard). The film portrays not only her movie career, but fills in gaps by showing the nature of her relationship with Traynor, with her family and her psychological state at the time.

After Lovelace’s short movie career, she became an advocate for women’s rights and spoke out against the pornography industry.

“Obviously she was in pretty unfortunate circumstances, and she didn’t choose to be physically abused,” Seyfried said. “Domestic violence is a thing and unfortunately it will always be a thing. She brought awareness to it. She really did. And people don’t credit her for that. They just define her as a porn star. She was an anti-porn crusader and a feminist.”

“It’s about a moment in time when women were being empowered by the sexual revolution and heavily exploited by the sexual revolution all at the same time,” Hank Azaria, who plays Jerry Damiano, the writer and director of “Deep Throat” in the film. “That has continued into the modern era. At least the women today are making more money at it than Linda. But there’s still the same double-edged sword.”

Debi Mazar, who plays one of Lovelace’s “Deep Throat” co-stars, said the film particularly resonated with her as the mother of two daughters.

“In the 70’s there was no Internet, no outreach programs … we were still kind of leftover from the McCarthy era,” she said. “I want women to see how far we have come.”

“What is happening in this movie is happening 10 blocks from here,” Gloria Steinem said. “Pimps are imprisoning girls now. I think we understand that better now. I hope (the movie) contributes to that awareness and activism.”

“It was an interesting time when sexuality was a bit of a free for all,” Chris Noth, who plays Anthony Romano, a “Deep Throat” financier, in the film, said. “We weren’t used to the damage that we find. Not just AIDS, but the damage when you treat sex that way. The same way it was with drugs … it was the freedom, the freedom, the freedom, but there was a price to pay.”

Sharon Stone, who plays Lovelace’s mother in the movie, said she views “Lovelace” as the story of a family, and the pornography industry is only a backdrop in the film. Really, it’s the story of a woman who stood up to her abuser, she said.

“At the time this film was made, the mother I played didn’t have access to so many things we have through our good work for women’s rights,” she said.

The movie’s directors also said they don’t see the subject of the film as sex.

“This is one woman’s story of overcoming some serious adversity and in the end, finding her own voice,” Friedman said. “To us, that’s what was compelling about it.”

After the film’s screening, the cast, as well as Steinem, celebrated at the rooftop bar of the Refinery Hotel. Justin Long, James Marsden and Carson Kressley attended as well.

Seyfried’s family, including her grandmother, stayed close to her side.